Let’s face it, handling your business in a porta potty isn’t quite the same as taking care of things in your own home bathroom. But porta potties are necessary amenities on construction sites, while you’re tailgating, at outdoor concerts and attending other large outdoor events.

But when you gotta go, you gotta go!

The fact is that when you have a large sum of people using porta potties during an event, things have the potential to get very messy rather quickly. And that’s where proper porta potty – and overall bathroom – etiquette comes into play. With that being said, here are some things that you can do to keep the porta potties cleaner, and ensure that the experience of using them is as high-quality as possible for everyone.

Porta Pottie Etiquette 101

Here’s a closer look on porta potty etiquette:

Wait your turn: At tailgates and populated outdoor events, there’s bound to be lines to use the bathroom. Never cut! Yes, we’re talking about the guy who sees someone he knows at the front of the line and strikes up a conversation with him, only to meander his way into the line. This also applies to the person waiting in line, who momentarily leaves it to throw a football or grab another drink, and expects to slide right back in where he was when he comes back. Let’s go back to grade school here – no cutting in line.

Don’t doddle: This is important – especially when using the porta pottie during outdoor events where there may be the intention for one to seek refuge in the amenity, whether it be to send a text message, make a phone call, smoke a cigarette, apply makeup or knock back a cold one in privacy. Remember, at populated events, there are likely thousands of people who will need to use the restroom. So be considerate. Go in, do what you’ve got to do, then exit and let someone else handle their business.

Try leaving it cleaner than you found it: Like we said in the open, going to the bathroom in a porta pottie is a far cry from what it’s like to go into the Taj Mahal – at least that’s what we assume. So do your part to keep the portable restroom clean. Make sure toilet paper goes where it’s supposed to, you leave the seat down when you exit and that there’s no residue on it. A little bit of upkeep can go a long way.

Other considerations: If you’re with children that are in the process of being potty trained, consider making the extra trek to a public washroom, or planning ahead for such a situation. Remember, good porta pottie etiquette is getting in and out fast, and a potty trainee isn’t exactly cut out for that sort of gig. The same goes for going No. 2 – porta potties are fine for this, but for the consideration of others, it might be in your best interest to find a public washroom.

When it comes to porta potties, a little bit of consideration can go a long way. So make sure that you’re abiding by the above recommendations so that your experience – as well as the experience of others – is as good as it gets.